San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland combined statistical area, Statistical area in Northern California, United States
The San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland area is a large metropolitan region that spans nine counties around San Francisco Bay. Within it sit several major cities and many smaller towns that together form one connected urban zone.
The area was first home to Native peoples before Spanish missionaries arrived in the 1600s and built missions. The Gold Rush of 1848 and later technological growth drove rapid expansion into the metropolitan area we see today.
The name San Francisco comes from a mission founded in the 1700s. Today the region contains universities and research centers that shape how many people work and spend their time.
The region is linked by trains, bridges, and highways that make it easy to move between the different cities and areas. The best time to visit is fall or spring when temperatures are mild and the sky is often clear.
A huge portion of the world's technology industry is concentrated here, with thousands of companies in what is called Silicon Valley. This has made the region a global center for digital creation and business.
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